mine took 11 weeks but I had to verify both identity AND income. depends what they're asking you to verify tbh

I went through this exact same process last year! For me, it took about 10 weeks total from when I submitted everything through ID.me. The key thing is making sure you uploaded ALL the documents they requested - I made the mistake of only uploading my W-2 initially and had to resubmit with my bank statements too, which reset the clock. Also, don't rely on Where's My Refund for updates - it barely changes. Your transcript will show movement first with cycle dates and processing codes. Stay patient, it's frustrating but they do eventually get through it!

Has anyone mentioned just banking the money in a regular business account? I run a small business and sometimes just leave profits in my business checking account until the next year when I need them. The money still shows up as income on my taxes, but at least I have the cash available for later.

One option that hasn't been fully explored here is setting up a Solo 401(k) if your consulting work qualifies as self-employment income. With a Solo 401(k), you can contribute both as the employee ($23,000 for 2025, or $30,500 if over 50) AND as the employer (up to 25% of compensation). This could potentially allow you to defer a significant portion of that $65k. The key is that your consulting income would need to be structured as self-employment rather than W-2 income from the client. You'd also want to make sure you're not exceeding the overall 415(c) limit when combined with your main job's 401(k). Another approach worth considering is a defined benefit plan if your consulting income is substantial and consistent - these can allow much higher contribution limits than traditional retirement accounts, sometimes $200k+ annually depending on your age and income projections. I'd strongly recommend getting professional advice before implementing any of these strategies, as the rules can be complex and mistakes can be costly.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking EVERYTHING related to these educational expenses, not just the tuition itself. If you traveled to take the courses, those travel expenses might be deductible too. Same with required books, supplies, software, etc. I deducted about $5,300 in education expenses for my consulting business last year, and almost $1,200 of that was actually the supplementary costs beyond just the course fees. My accountant said as long as they're necessary for the education that improves your current business skills, they should qualify.

Has anyone used TurboTax Self-Employed for handling these kinds of business education deductions? I'm trying to decide between that or hiring a CPA this year, especially with these education expenses I want to deduct.

Here's what happens after verification based on my research: 1. Your verification status is updated in the IRS internal system (1-3 days) 2. Your return is released from the verification hold (3-5 days) 3. Normal processing resumes where it left off (varies) 4. WMR updates (usually after transcript) 5. Transcript codes update to show processing status The most reliable indicator is checking for code 570 (hold) being replaced by 571 (hold released) on your account transcript.

The timeline can definitely vary, but based on what I've seen in the community, you're looking at roughly 2-3 weeks after verification for things to start moving again. The key thing to remember is that verification just removes the hold - your return then goes back into the regular processing queue where it left off. Since you just verified yesterday, I'd give it at least a week before expecting any transcript changes. The WMR tool is notoriously slow to update compared to transcripts, so focus on checking your account transcript (not return transcript) for codes 570/571 as Andre mentioned above. For your Q2 investment planning, I'd personally budget for at least 3-4 weeks total from your verification date to be safe, though it could be sooner.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - beware of the "Currently Not Collectible" status these companies often push. It might sound great (the IRS agrees not to collect from you temporarily), but the 10-year clock keeps running AND interest and penalties keep accumulating! Sometimes it makes more sense to set up even a small payment plan to start chipping away at the debt. For 2012-2014, if you haven't filed yet, file ASAP. The assessment date (which starts the 10-year clock) begins when you file and the IRS processes your return. So those years aren't even on the clock yet. I'd recommend calling the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. They're independent from the IRS collection division and can give you free guidance. Their number is 877-777-4778.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - owe about $28,000 for 2020-2022 and just got the levy notice last week. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the 10-year rule and how it actually works. I called one of those tax relief companies too and they wanted $3,200 upfront after a $500 "consultation fee." After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely not going that route. Question for those who've been through this - how urgent is it really to act on the levy notice? Mine says "Final Notice - Intent to Levy" and gives me 30 days. I'm trying to decide between finding a local EA or attempting to call the IRS directly. The idea of waiting hours on hold is daunting, but the Claimyr service mentioned above sounds interesting if it actually works. Also, has anyone here actually had their bank account levied? I'm terrified they'll clean out my checking account before I can get this sorted out. We have about $3,000 in there which is basically our rent and grocery money for the month. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's so much more helpful than the scary marketing from these tax relief companies.